U.S. patent number 10,664,231 [Application Number 16/351,101] was granted by the patent office on 2020-05-26 for image forming apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA. The grantee listed for this patent is SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Hiromi Kaimori.
United States Patent |
10,664,231 |
Kaimori |
May 26, 2020 |
Image forming apparatus
Abstract
A multifunction peripheral (image forming apparatus) capable of
voice guidance includes a voice output unit, a storage unit in
which voice guidance data for voice guidance is stored, a control
unit that performs control to output voice guidance from the voice
output unit, and a communication unit that performs communication
connection with an external apparatus. In a case where public
announcement data that is transmitted from the external apparatus
is received, public announcement based on the public announcement
data is output from the voice output unit.
Inventors: |
Kaimori; Hiromi (Sakai,
JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Sakai, Osaka |
N/A |
JP |
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Assignee: |
SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA (Sakai,
Osaka, JP)
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Family
ID: |
68056283 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/351,101 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2019 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20190303097 A1 |
Oct 3, 2019 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Mar 28, 2018 [JP] |
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2018-062169 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
3/167 (20130101); H04N 1/00488 (20130101); H04R
27/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04N
1/00 (20060101); G06F 3/16 (20060101); H04R
27/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;358/1.13 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2004-258282 |
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Sep 2004 |
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JP |
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2005-096246 |
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Apr 2005 |
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JP |
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Primary Examiner: Dehkordy; Saeid Ebrahimi
Attorney, Agent or Firm: ScienBiziP, P.C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An image forming apparatus capable of voice guidance, the image
forming apparatus comprising: voice output circuitry; a memory in
which first voice data for voice guidance is stored; a control
circuitry that performs control to output first voice based on the
first voice data from the voice output circuitry; and communication
circuitry that performs communication connection with an external
apparatus, wherein in a case where second voice data that is
transmitted from the external apparatus is received, second voice
based on the second voice data is output from the voice output
circuitry.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a
case where there are a plurality of the image forming apparatuses
each of which includes the voice output circuitry and which are
adjacent to each other, the second voice is output from an image
forming apparatus that is specified.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an
output of the second voice is restricted in accordance with an
installation place of the image forming apparatus that includes the
voice output circuitry.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
second voice data is stored, and whether to include at least
emergency or importance is determined on a basis of the second
voice data, and weighting of the second voice data is performed on
a basis of a result of the determination.
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an
output order of voice data to be output from the voice output
circuitry is set on a basis of information of the weighting of the
second voice data.
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising a display device, wherein in a case where the second
voice data is received, a display screen related to the second
voice data is displayed in the display device.
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a
case where the second voice is output by suspending the first voice
while the first voice is output, when the first voice data allows
determination of a pause of the first voice, an output of the first
voice is resumed by performing the output from a pause immediately
before a pause at which the first voice data is suspended.
Description
BACKGROUND
1. Field
The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus such
as a copier, a printer, or a facsimile, and particularly relates to
an image forming apparatus that has a voice guidance function.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional digital multifunction peripheral (hereinafter,
referred to as a "multifunction peripheral"), which is an image
forming apparatus that includes an image forming unit, a scanner,
and the like and has a plurality of functions, captures an original
image that is input through the scanner as image data and performs
image recording of the image data with the image data stored in a
memory, in accordance with a condition set by a user, such as the
number of copies, to complete a recorded matter.
Among multifunction peripherals constituted in this manner, a
multifunction peripheral that has a voice guidance function of
giving explanation by voice for explaining a state, an operation
method, or the like of the multifunction peripheral has been known
recently.
As a related art, for example, it is disclosed that, in an image
forming apparatus that has a voice guidance function, second voice
guidance is executed by interruption while first voice guidance is
executed (refer to Japanese Patent No. 4415625).
As another example, it is disclosed that, in an image forming
apparatus that has a voice guidance function, a method of, when
second voice guidance is executed by interruption while first voice
guidance is executed, resuming the first voice guidance after the
second voice guidance ends is provided (refer to Japanese
Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-258282).
According to the related arts described above, both Japanese Patent
No. 4415625 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication
No. 2004-258282 describe the voice guidance but do not mention
announcement transmitted from outside the apparatus, such as public
announcement.
Accordingly, in order to give public announcement, for example, a
voice output device such as a speaker is to be separately installed
and a wiring work or the like is to be executed.
When being used in an office or the like, one or more multifunction
peripherals are placed in one room in many cases. Thus, when public
announcement is given by utilizing a multifunction peripheral, the
public announcement is able to be easily given without executing a
wiring work for the public announcement on a ceiling or the
like.
It is desirable to provide an image forming apparatus capable of
outputting voice with a simple configuration by using a voice
output unit of the image forming apparatus and outputting voice
data from outside.
SUMMARY
According to an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided an
image forming apparatus capable of voice guidance. The image
forming apparatus includes a voice output unit, a storage unit in
which first voice data for voice guidance is stored, a control unit
that performs control to output first voice based on the first
voice data from the voice output unit, and a communication unit
that performs communication connection with an outside. In a case
where second voice data that is transmitted from the outside is
received, second voice based on the second voice data is output
from the voice output unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a
multifunction peripheral (image forming apparatus) according to a
first embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a table indicating identification information of the
multifunction peripheral;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a processing process in which public
announcement that is received by the multifunction peripheral is
output;
FIG. 4 is a table indicating identification information of a
multifunction peripheral of the second embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a processing process in which public
announcement that is received by the multifunction peripheral is
output;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a
multifunction peripheral according to a third embodiment;
FIG. 7 is a table indicating weighting of public announcement that
is transmitted to the multifunction peripheral;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a processing process in which public
announcement that is received by the multifunction peripheral is
output;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a
multifunction peripheral according to a fourth embodiment;
FIG. 10 is an explanatory view illustrating an exemplary embodiment
1 of a display screen related to voice data that is displayed in a
display unit of the multifunction peripheral;
FIG. 11 is an explanatory view illustrating an exemplary embodiment
2 of a display screen related to voice data that is displayed in
the display unit;
FIG. 12 is an explanatory view illustrating an exemplary embodiment
3 of a display screen related to voice data that is displayed in
the display unit;
FIG. 13 is an explanatory view illustrating an exemplary embodiment
4 of a display screen related to voice data that is displayed in
the display unit; and
FIG. 14 is an explanatory view illustrating an example of an
interruption timing during voice guidance by a multifunction
peripheral according to a fifth embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
First Embodiment
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the disclosure will be described
with reference to drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a
multifunction peripheral (image forming apparatus) according to a
first embodiment of the disclosure, which is an example of an
embodiment of the disclosure, and FIG. 2 is a table indicating
identification information of the multifunction peripheral.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, according to the first embodiment, a
multifunction peripheral (image forming apparatus) 1 having a voice
guidance function includes a communication unit 6 that performs
communication connection with an external apparatus 20, and is
characterized in that when public announcement data (second voice
data) that is transmitted from the external apparatus 20 is
received, public announcement (second voice) is output (reproduced)
from a voice output unit 5 included in the multifunction peripheral
1.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the multifunction peripheral 1 according
to the first embodiment has a configuration mainly including an
operation panel 2, an image forming unit 4, the voice output unit
5, the communication unit 6, a storage unit 8, and a control unit
9.
The operation panel 2 includes a display unit 21 on which an
operation screen is displayed or a touch operation is able to be
performed.
On the basis of image data that is input, the image forming unit 4
forms an image to be output.
The voice output unit 5 is a speaker or the like from which voice
is output. Here, voice guidance (first voice) is output from the
voice output unit 5.
The communication unit 6 has a configuration capable of
communication connection with an outside. Here, the communication
unit 6 is connected with a broadcasting apparatus as the external
apparatus 20, which performs public announcement.
The storage unit 8 has a function as a working memory in which a
result of calculation or processing by a CPU (not illustrated) is
temporarily stored and a function as a frame memory in which image
data is stored. Then, the storage unit 8 stores image data that is
input to the apparatus by a terminal computer or the like from the
outside of the apparatus, image data of an original that is read
through a scanner unit, or the like.
Moreover, in the first embodiment, the storage unit 8 includes a
voice guidance storage area 81 in which voice data (first voice
data) of the voice guidance (first voice) is stored, a public
announcement storage area 82 in which the public announcement data
(second voice data) transmitted from the external apparatus 20 is
stored, and an identification information storage area 83 to
identify a multifunction peripheral.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, in the identification information storage
area 83, identification information 1 and 2 to identify whether the
multifunction peripheral 1 is a high-speed machine or a standard
machine by using an apparatus configuration as identification
information are stored.
The control unit 9 controls action of the entire apparatus and also
controls an operation of the multifunction peripheral 1.
The control unit 9 has a voice output unit specifying unit 91 that
specifies a voice output unit 5 from which the second voice is
output.
When there are a plurality of multifunction peripherals 1 in a
vicinity of the multifunction peripheral 1, the voice output unit
specifying unit 91 specifies from which voice output unit 5 of a
multifunction peripheral 1 the second voice is to be output. For
example, the second voice may be output from a multifunction
peripheral 1 not executing job processing among the plurality of
multifunction peripherals 1, or the second voice may be output from
a standard machine in a case where there are a high-speed machine
and the standard machine among the plurality of multifunction
peripherals 1.
Next, processing in which public announcement data is received by
the multifunction peripheral 1 of the first embodiment and is
output from the multifunction peripheral 1 will be described along
a flowchart.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a processing process in which public
announcement that is received by the multifunction peripheral
according to the first embodiment is output.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, in a case where public announcement data
is received by the multifunction peripheral 1 (step S101), whether
or not there are a plurality of multifunction peripherals 1 in the
vicinity is determined by the control unit 9 (step S103).
In a case where it is determined at step S103 that there are the
plurality of multifunction peripherals 1 in the vicinity, a
multifunction peripheral 1 from which public announcement is output
is specified by the voice output unit specifying unit 91 (step
S105).
At step S105, whether or not each of the multifunction peripherals
1 is a high-speed machine or a standard machine is determined on
the basis of identification information of the multifunction
peripheral 1, and in a case where the multifunction peripheral 1 is
a standard machine, a voice output unit 5 of the multifunction
peripheral 1 that is the standard machine is specified. Moreover,
in a case where there are a plurality of multifunction peripherals
1 that are standard machines or in a case where there are only
multifunction peripherals 1 that are high-speed machines, a voice
output unit 5 of a multifunction peripheral 1 not executing job
processing is specified.
Then, the public announcement is output from the specified voice
output unit 5 of the multifunction peripheral 1 (step S107).
On the other hand, in a case where it is determined at step S103
that there are not a plurality of multifunction peripherals 1 in
the vicinity, the public announcement is output from the voice
output unit 5 of the multifunction peripheral 1 (step S109).
In this manner, the public announcement is able to be output from
the voice output unit 5 of the multifunction peripheral 1.
With the configuration described above, the multifunction
peripheral 1 capable of voice guidance according to the first
embodiment has a configuration including the communication unit 6
that performs communication connection with the external apparatus
20, and has a configuration in which, when public announcement data
transmitted from the external apparatus 20 is received, voice of
public announcement based on the public announcement data is output
from the voice output unit 5, making it possible to output the
voice of the public announcement with a simple configuration
without separately providing a voice output device.
Moreover, in the first embodiment, in a case where there are
different multifunction peripherals 1 in the vicinity of a place
where the multifunction peripheral 1 is installed, whether or not
each of the multifunction peripherals 1 is a high-speed machine or
a standard machine is determined on the basis of the identification
information of the multifunction peripheral 1, and when there is a
multifunction peripheral 1 that is a standard machine, a voice
output unit 5 of the multifunction peripheral 1 that is the
standard machine is caused to give public announcement, thus making
it possible to easily hear the public announcement because sound
from the standard machine is smaller than that from the high-speed
machine.
In the case where there are a plurality of multifunction
peripherals 1 that are standard machines or in the case where there
are only multifunction peripherals 1 that are high-speed machines,
the voice output unit 5 of the multifunction peripheral 1 not
executing job processing is caused to give public announcement,
thus making it possible to hear the public announcement without
difficulty in hearing the public announcement due to job
processing.
Note that, an output of the public announcement may be performed
directly from the voice output unit 5 on the basis of the received
public announcement data, or the public announcement data may be
temporarily stored in the public announcement storage area 82 of
the storage unit 8 and the public announcement data may be called
out from the storage unit 8 and output from the voice output unit
5.
Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to
drawings.
Note that, for convenience of description, a configuration having
the same function as that of the first embodiment will be given the
same reference sign, and description thereof will be omitted.
FIG. 4 is a table indicating identification information of a
multifunction peripheral of the second embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a
flowchart of a processing process in which public announcement that
is received by the multifunction peripheral is output.
The second embodiment is characterized in that an installation
place is used as the identification information of the
multifunction peripheral 1 instead of using the apparatus
configuration as the identification information of the
multifunction peripheral 1 as in the first embodiment and an output
of the public announcement is restricted in accordance with the
installation place of the multifunction peripheral.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, as the identification information of the
multifunction peripheral 1, identification information 11 and 12 to
identify, by using the installation place of the multifunction
peripheral 1 as the identification information, whether or not the
installation place is a general region (e.g., an inside of a normal
office or the like) which is not particularly specified or a
specific region (e.g., a conference room or the like) which is set
in advance are stored.
Next, processing in which public announcement data is received by
the multifunction peripheral 1 of the second embodiment and output
from the multifunction peripheral 1 will be described along a
flowchart.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, in a case where public announcement data
is received by the multifunction peripheral 1 (step S201), whether
or not the multifunction peripheral 1 is installed in a specific
region is determined by the control unit 9 (step S203).
In a case where it is determined at step S203 that the
multifunction peripheral 1 is installed in the specific region, the
multifunction peripheral 1 is not specified by the voice output
unit specifying unit 91 as the multifunction peripheral 1 from
which public announcement is output, so that the public
announcement is not given (step S205).
On the other hand, in a case where it is determined at step S203
that the multifunction peripheral 1 is not installed in the
specific region, the public announcement is output from the voice
output unit 5 of the multifunction peripheral 1 (step S207).
In this manner, the multifunction peripheral 1 from which the
public announcement is output is able to be specified.
With the configuration described above, according to the second
embodiment, in the multifunction peripheral 1 capable of voice
guidance, an installation place is used as the identification
information of the multifunction peripheral 1 to identify whether
the installation place is a general region (e.g., an inside of a
normal office or the like) which is not particularly specified or a
specific region (e.g., a conference room or the like) which is set
in advance, so that whether or not to give public announcement is
able to be set in accordance with the place where the multifunction
peripheral 1 is installed.
Note that, in the second embodiment, whether the installation place
of the multifunction peripheral 1 is a specific region or general
region is used as the identification information, but additionally,
the multifunction peripheral from which the public announcement is
output may be set in detail in accordance with a plurality of
installation places.
Third Embodiment
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to
drawings.
Note that, for convenience of description, a configuration having
the same function as that of the first embodiment will be given the
same reference sign, and description thereof will be omitted.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a
multifunction peripheral according to the third embodiment, FIG. 7
is a table indicating weighting of public announcement that is
transmitted to the multifunction peripheral, and FIG. 8 is a
flowchart of a processing process in which the public announcement
that is received by the multifunction peripheral is output.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, a multifunction peripheral 301 according
to the third embodiment is characterized in that, in addition to
the configuration of the multifunction peripheral 1 according to
the first embodiment, a storage unit 308 includes a weighting
storage area 84 in which weighting information is stored and a
control unit 309 includes a voice output order setting unit 92, and
determination of emergency and importance is performed on the basis
of the received public announcement data, weighting of the public
announcement data is performed on the basis of a result of the
determination, and an output order of voice data to be output from
the voice output unit 5 is set on the basis of information of the
weighting.
In the third embodiment, emergency and importance of the public
announcement data are determined in accordance with a content of
the public announcement data on the basis of, for example, a
"weighting table" illustrated in FIG. 7, and a weighting level is
specified on the basis of a result of the determination.
Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 7, weighting levels are set
to, for example, 5 stages of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 and weighting of the
public announcement is determined.
In a case where the public announcement is announcement of radio
gymnastics or the like, it is determined that a degree of the
emergency is "low" and a degree of the importance is "low", so that
the weighting level is "0".
In a case where the public announcement is a call by an extension
or announcement with low emergency, it is determined that a degree
of the emergency is "low" and a degree of the importance is "high",
so that the weighting level is "1".
The weighting level of voice guidance is "2".
In a case where the public announcement is a call by an outside
line or a visitor, it is determined that a degree of the emergency
is "high" and a degree of the importance is "low", so that the
weighting level is "3".
In a case where the public announcement is announcement with high
emergency, such as an earthquake early warning, a tsunami warning,
or an evacuation advisory, it is determined that a degree of the
emergency is "high" and a degree of the importance is "high", so
that the weighting level is "4".
As described above, the order in which the public announcement data
which is received by the multifunction peripheral 301 and whose
weighting level is determined is output from the voice output unit
5 is set by the voice output order setting unit 92 in accordance
with the weighting level of the public announcement data.
Next, processing in which public announcement is received by the
multifunction peripheral 301 of the third embodiment and output
from the multifunction peripheral 301 will be described along a
flowchart.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, voice guidance is output from the
multifunction peripheral 301, (step S301). At this time, when
public announcement data is received (step S303), whether or not
the public announcement data has emergency or importance is
determined by the control unit 309 (step S305).
In a case where it is determined at step S305 that the public
announcement data has emergency or importance, the public
announcement is set by the voice output order setting unit 92 to be
output prior to the voice guidance (step S311). Then, the voice
guidance is suspended (step S313) and the public announcement is
output (step S315). The suspended voice guidance is output after
the public announcement ends (step S317).
On the other hand, in a case where it is determined at step S305
that the public announcement data does not have emergency or
importance, the voice guidance is set by the voice output order
setting unit 92 to be output prior to the public announcement (step
S321). Then, the public announcement data is stored in the storage
unit 308 (step S323). The voice guidance is continuously output
(step S325). The stored public announcement is output after the
voice guidance ends (step S327).
In this manner, in a case where the public announcement is received
while the voice guidance is output (reproduced), the output is able
to be performed by changing an output state in accordance with the
emergency or the importance of the public announcement.
With the configuration described above, according to the third
embodiment, in the multifunction peripheral 301 capable of voice
guidance, the storage unit 308 includes the weighting storage area
84 in which the weighting information is stored, and the control
unit 309 includes the voice output order setting unit 92, so that
weighting of voice data to be output is able to be performed on the
basis of a result of determination for emergency and importance of
received public announcement data and the voice data is able to be
output in order from voice data to be prioritized by setting an
output order on the basis of information of the weighting.
Fourth Embodiment
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to
drawings.
Note that, for convenience of description, a configuration having
the same function as that of the first embodiment will be given the
same reference sign, and description thereof will be omitted.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a
multifunction peripheral according to a fourth embodiment, FIG. 10
is an explanatory view illustrating an exemplary embodiment 1 of a
display screen related to voice data that is displayed in a display
unit of the multifunction peripheral, FIG. 11 is an explanatory
view illustrating an exemplary embodiment 2 of a display screen
related to voice data that is displayed in the display unit, FIG.
12 is an explanatory view illustrating an exemplary embodiment 3 of
a display screen related to voice data that is displayed in the
display unit, and FIG. 13 is an explanatory view illustrating an
exemplary embodiment 4 of a display screen related to voice data
that is displayed in the display unit.
As illustrated in FIG. 9, a multifunction peripheral 401 according
to the fourth embodiment includes, in addition to the configuration
of the multifunction peripheral 1 according to the first
embodiment, a display control unit 93 as a configuration of a
control unit 409, and is characterized in that when public
announcement data is received, a display screen related to the
public announcement data is displayed on the display unit 21.
Exemplary Embodiment 1
In the exemplary embodiment 1, as illustrated in FIG. 10, when
public announcement data is received, a display screen 121 that
includes a message 211 indicating "Voice data is being received.
The voice data is being saved." is displayed on the display unit
21.
Exemplary Embodiment 2
In the exemplary embodiment 2, as illustrated in FIG. 11, when the
saving of the public announcement data is completed, a display
screen 122 that includes a message 212 indicating "Voice data is
received. The voice data is saved." is displayed on the display
unit 21.
Exemplary Embodiment 3
In the exemplary embodiment 3, as illustrated in FIG. 12, when the
public announcement data is received, a pop-up screen 123 about an
instruction of reproduction of the voice data is displayed on the
display unit 21 in addition to the display screen 121 that includes
the message 211 indicating "Voice data is being received. The voice
data is being saved.".
In the pop-up screen 123, together with a message 213 indicating
"Do you immediately reproduce the voice data being saved?", a
software button 221 in which "Reproduce immediately" is displayed
and a software button 222 in which "Reproduce after data being
reproduced" is displayed are displayed.
Exemplary Embodiment 4
In the exemplary embodiment 4, as illustrated in FIG. 13, when a
touch operation of the software button 221 in which "Reproduce
immediately" is displayed in the pop-up screen 123 illustrated in
FIG. 12 is performed, a display screen 124 that includes a message
214 indicating "Received voice data is being reproduced.
Temporarily stopped voice data is saved." is displayed on the
display unit 21.
In the exemplary embodiment 4, in a case where the display screen
121 or 122 related to reception of the voice data is displayed on
the display unit 21 as in the exemplary embodiment 1 or 2, by
touching the display screen 121 or 122, the pop-up screen 123 of
the exemplary embodiment 3 is displayed, so that whether or not to
immediately reproduce the received voice data (here, referred to as
"public announcement data") that is being saved is able to be
selected.
In a case where the public announcement data is ready to be
reproduced before the saving of the public announcement data is
completed, the display screen 122 of the exemplary embodiment 2 is
not displayed.
Furthermore, the voice data (here, referred to as "voice guidance
data") that is previously reproduced is also temporarily stopped
while the pop-up screen 123 of the exemplary embodiment 3 is
displayed.
When the software button 221 of "Reproduce immediately" in the
pop-up screen 123 is touched, "public announcement data" that is
determined to have a low degree of priority and is thus saved is
given. Then, the pop-up screen 123 is deleted to be switched to the
display screen 124 of the exemplary embodiment 4.
At this time, by pressing the software button 221 of "Reproduce
immediately", the weighting level of the "public announcement data"
is replaced with "4 (maximum value)", and the weighting level of
the "voice guidance data" is replaced with "[original weighting
level]-1".
Moreover, in a case where the soft button 222 of "Reproduce after
data being reproduced" is touched in the pop-up screen 123 of the
exemplary embodiment 3, the pop-up screen 123 is deleted to be
returned to the display screen 121 or the display screen 122, and
the "voice guidance data" is sequentially reproduced. At this time,
there is no change in a value of the weighting level.
When the display screen 124 of the exemplary embodiment 4 is
touched, the display screen is returned to the pop-up screen 123 of
the exemplary embodiment 3, and when the software button 221 of
"Reproduce immediately" is touched, reproduction of the "voice
guidance data" is resumed. At this time, the weighting level of the
"public announcement data" is replaced with "3 (4 [maximum
value]-1) and the weighting level of the "voice guidance data" is
replaced with "4 (maximum value)". In this manner, by changing a
reproduction state of the voice data to be reproduced, the
weighting level of the voice data is able to be changed.
With the configuration described above, the multifunction
peripheral 401 of the exemplary embodiment 4 includes the display
control unit 93 as a configuration of the control unit 409, and
when public announcement data is received, the display screen
related to the public announcement data is displayed on the display
unit 21, thus making it possible to visually notify a user of
reception of public announcement. Then, by changing the
reproduction state of the voice data to be reproduced, the
weighting level of the voice data is able to be changed.
Fifth Embodiment
Next, a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to a
drawing.
Note that, for convenience of description, a configuration having
the same function as that of the first embodiment will be given the
same reference sign, and description thereof will be omitted.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory view illustrating an example of an
interruption timing during voice guidance by a multifunction
peripheral according to the fifth embodiment.
The fifth embodiment is characterized in that, in the multifunction
peripheral 1, in a case where public announcement that is
transmitted is output by suspending voice guidance while the voice
guidance is output, when voice guidance data allows determination
of a pause of the voice guidance, the output of the voice guidance
is resumed by performing the output from a pause immediately before
the pause at which the voice guidance is suspended.
Specifically, in a case where an original sentence of the voice
guidance is, for example, "ABCD, EFG. HIJK, LMN." as illustrated in
FIG. 14 and a sentence that is reproduced before the interruption
by the public announcement due to the voice guidance being
suspended to give the public announcement is "ABCD, EFG. HI
(suspended here)", control is performed so that a sentence to be
reproduced after the interruption by the public announcement ends
is "HIJK, LMN.".
With the configuration described above, according to the fifth
embodiment, in the multifunction peripheral 1, even in the case
where public announcement is given by interruption while voice
guidance is output, and the voice guidance is suspended in a middle
of a sentence thereof, when voice guidance data allows
determination of a pause of the voice guidance, the output of the
voice guidance is resumed by performing the output from a pause
immediately before the pause at which the voice guidance is
suspended, thus making it possible to accurately inform a content
of the voice guidance.
As described above, the disclosure is not limited to each of the
embodiments described above, and may be modified in various manners
within the scope of the claims. A skilled in the art could
obviously conceive various modified examples or correction examples
within the scope of the claims, that is, an embodiment achieved by
combining techniques which are appropriately modified within a
range not departed from the gist of the disclosure is also
encompassed in the technical scope of the disclosure.
The present disclosure contains subject matter related to that
disclosed in Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2018-062169
filed in the Japan Patent Office on Mar. 28, 2018, the entire
contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various
modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may
occur depending on design requirements and other factors insofar as
they are within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents
thereof.
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